How the electoral system works in Pakistan

Pakistan goes to the polls on Thursday in a widely watched national election that will lead to the formation of a new government to lead the crisis-ridden South Asian nation for the next five years. Here are some facts about how the electoral system works in Pakistan: How voting works Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy and voting will take place for seats in the federal legislature, called the National Assembly, and four provincial, or state, legislatures. 128 million Pakistanis out of a population of 241 million are eligible to vote — all those above 18. Polling booths are open from 9 am to 5 pm (0400 GMT to 1200 GMT) usually but time can be extended in exceptional individual circumstances. **Also Read: Election or Selection? How Pakistan army continues to wield influence over politics** On election day, voters will cast their ballots for two legislators to represent their constituency — one federally and the other provincially. There are 5,121 candidates contesting for the federal legislature and 12,695 for the provinces. The National Assembly consists of 336 seats — 266 are decided through direct voting on polling day, while 70 reserved seats — 60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims — are allotted according to the strength of each party in the house. Major parties in the fray The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which came to power for the third time with a clear majority in 2013, will seek a repeat victory in the general elections. The PTI, founded by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and currently led by Gohar Ali, is another major contender. Since Khan’s arrest, the PTI has faced numerous legal ramifications and a slew of desertions. [caption id=“attachment_13701642” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, right top on vehicle wearing a blue shirt, addresses to his supporters during an election campaign rally, in Karachi, Pakistan. AP[/caption] The centre-left Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by slain leader Benazir Bhutto’s son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father Asif Ali Zardari, is also attempting to retake power for the first time since 2008. The Awami National Party (ANP) is an ethnic Pashtun nationalist party based primarily in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that aims to succeed the PTI in the provincial government. Big players in the contest Though army chief General Asim Munir is not appearing on electoral polls directly, his influence as the military leader remains significant. Aside from elections, Munir will serve as ‘chief selector’ in determining the next Prime Minister following the elections. **Also Read: Pakistan elections: How two trans candidates are hoping to change politics** Nawaz Sharif is another prominent figure in Pakistani politics. The three-time prime minister secured overwhelming victories in the 2007 and 2013 elections. However, despite his electoral successes, the 74-year-old Sharif has never managed to complete a term in office. Despite these legal and political setbacks, Khan maintains a sizable grassroots support base, and his party remains competitive in the political arena. [caption id=“attachment_13701652” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Supporter of former prime minister Imran Khan and political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) attend during an election campaign rally in Lahore, Pakistan. AP[/caption] Following his mother’s assassination in 2007, he quickly rose to the leadership of his family’s political party. Despite his strong support in Sindh, his party may not receive enough votes to elect him as prime minister, but it could play an important role in a potential Sharif-led coalition government. What comes next Victorious candidates become members of the National Assembly. Independent candidates have the option to join any party after the elections. Once constituted, the National Assembly holds a parliamentary vote to select a leader of the house, who becomes the prime minister. A successful candidate must show a simple majority in the house — that is, the support of at least 169 members. Once a prime ministerial candidate wins the vote in the National Assembly, they are sworn in as prime minister. The new prime minister picks Cabinet ministers, who form the federal government. If no party wins a clear majority, the one with the most Assembly seats can form a coalition government. A similar process is followed at the provincial level to pick a chief minister and a provincial government. With inputs from Reuters